Telephone dial actuator



April 18, 1933.

J. P. COLLVER TELEPHONE DIAL ACTUATOR Filed May 19, 1932 A TORNEYS '40 ribs 11.

Patented Apr. 18, 19733 JULIUS PaCOLLVER F OLD GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT Y TELEPHONE nIAL ACTUATOR Application mea May, 1e,

This invention relates to telephone dial actuators and has for anfobject an instrument for effecting rotation of the dial ina simple and eflicient manner. An instrument embodying ythe invention consists of a dial-engaging member carried at the end of a. stem having spiral ribs. vA manually operable actuator is mounted on the stem and is provided Vwith grooves receiving the ribs, whereby movement of the actuator axially of the stem effects rotation'thereof. The dial-engaging member has a finger which is adapted to extendinto the fingerholes with which the dial is provided. In using this in- I strument, it is held in the hand and the dialengaging member is pressed against the Vdial with the finger insertedk in the proper -nger hole. Rotation of the stem is eected by movement of the actuator, the extent of rotation of the dial being limited lby engagement of the finger with the stop provided for that purpose. `l y Other objects, novel featuresand .advantages of this invention will .be apparent from the following specification Vand accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the instrument in position of use; f

Fin'. 2 shows the instrument in operated y :1 position;

Fig. 3 is an. axial section partly broken Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4.-'-4 of Fig. 3,

and

Fig. 5 is an axial section partly broken away of a modified embodiment of the invention.

Referring now more especially to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, 10 is a stem provided with spiral ln one end of the stem there is pinned a sleeve 12 which is interiorly threaded. A dial-engaging member 13 is provided with a threaded shank 14 by which the dialengaging member is attached to the stem 10. The dial-engaging member 13 is equipped 1932. Serial No. 612,279.

with a pad 15 of proper size to be received in the recess provided in the dials of automatic telephones. The member 13 is ralso provided with a finger 16 which is properly arranged to be received in the linger holes of Y thetelephone dial.

v A-sleeve 17 is mounted on the stem 10 and is provided with grooves to receive the ribs 11, whereby relative axial movement of the stem and sleeve eEects relative rotary movement also. A hollow handle 18 receives the sleeve 17 which is threaded to the handle or other- Wise vdetachably connected thereto. A collar 19 is pinned to the upper end of thevstem 11 and a spring 2O is contained within the han- 6o dle 18 and engages the collar 19 to tend to force the stem out of the handle.

'In the use of this instrument, the handle 18 is grasped with the hand and the pad 15 arranged in the central recess of the dial 21 kof 65 an'automatic telephoneA 22 with the linger 16 extending into the finger hole of the desired number or letter. The handle is then pushed toward the dial, thus rotating the stem 10 Y and the memberV 13 until the linger 16 en- 7o gages the stop 23. The instrument is then lifted andthe dial permitted to return to its original lposition in the usual manner. The spring 20 forces the lstem 10 out of the handle 18and the instrument is again ready for use. 75

To facilitate carrying the instrument in the pocket a latch 24 may be provided which will hold the stem' against rotation after it has been forced its full length into the handle 18. The overall length of the instrument is 8o thus reduced, making it more compact and more adapted to be carried in the pocket.

In" the embodimentV of the invention disclosedin Fig. 5, a stem 30 is provided with spiral ribs 31. A sleeve 32-is pinned to the 85 stem 3() and a dial-engaging member 33 is attached .tothe stem by a shankr 34. The dial-engaging member is provided with a pad 35 and a finger 36. A sleeve 37 is mounted on the stem 31 and is provided with 90 grooves receiving the ribs 32, whereby relative axial movement of the stem and the sleeve eect relative rotation thereof. The stem is pinned to a post 38 rotatably mounted in the button 39. A tube 40 is carried by the button 39 and surrounds the stem 30. This stem is provided with a pair of longitudinal slots 41 through which project arms 42 carried by the sleeve 37. A spring 43 is interposed between the button and the sleeve 37 and tends to hold the sleeve with the arms 42 in engagement with thc lower ends of the slots 4l.

ln the use of this instrument, the sleeve 37 is first pulled toward the button 39 with the latter arranged in the palm of the hand and the first two fingers engagingl the arms 42.

The spring 43 is compressed and rotation of the stem 30 is eected by the axial movement of the sleeve 37 thereon. rlhe pad 35 is then inserted in the recess in the dial with the finger 36 inserted in the selected finger hole. The arms 42 are then released, thus allowing the spring 43 to move the sleeve axially of the same and effect rotation of the stem to swino the fin er 36 into en a ement e g g g with the stop 23. The instrument is then withdrawn from engagement with the dial and the latter allowed to return to its original positionin the normal manner.

lt is of course understood that various modifications may be made in the structure above described, without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention as dev fined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A telephone dial-operating instrument comprising a dial-engaging member, a stem connected to said member, a manually operated actuator mounted on said stem, and inter-engaging means on said stem and actuator for effecting rotation of said stem upon-movement of the actuator axially of said stem. f

2. A telephone dial-operating instrument comprising a dial-engaging member, a stem connected to said member, a manually operated actuator mounted on said stem, interengaging means on said stem and actuator for effecting rotation of said stem upon movement of the actuator `axially of said stem, and resilient means tending to oppose movement of said actuator in one direction.

3. A telephone dial-operating instrument comprising a stem provided at one end with a dial-engaging member and a finger adapted to be received in a finger hole of the dial, an operating member mounted on said stem, and inter-engaging means on said stem and operating member for effecting relative rotation-upon relative axial movement.

4. A telephone dial-operating instrument comprising a stem provided at one end with a dial-engaging member and a finger adapted to be received in a finger hole of the dial, an

ing member carried by said stem, said dialengaging member having a finger adapted toV be inserted in a hole in the dial.

6. A telephone' dial-operating instrument comprising a hollow handle, a stem carried Aby said handle, ribs on said stem and grooves in said handle receiving said ribs for effecting rotation of the stem upon movement of the handle axially thereof, a dial-engaging member carried by saidV stem, said dial-engaging member having a finger adapted to be inserted in a hole in the dial, and resilient means tending to force said stem out of said handle. l

7. A telephone dial-operating instrument comprising a tube, a stem rotatably mounted Within said tube, a sleeve mounted on said stem, spiral ribs on said stem and grooves in said sleeve receiving said ribs for eHect-ing rotation of said stem upon movement of the sleeve axially thereof, a dial-engaging member carried by said stem, said member engaging a finger adapted to be received in a hole in the dial, and operating arms extending from said sleeve through longitudinal slots in said tube.

8. A telephone dial-operating instrument comprising a tube, a stem rotatably mounted within said tube, a sleeve mounted on said stem, spiral ribs on said stem and grooves in saidsleeve receiving said ribs for effecting rotation of said stem upon movement of the sleeve axially thereof, a dial-engaging member carried by said stem, said member engaging a finger adapted to be received in a hole in the dial, operating arms extending from said sleeve through longitudinal slots in said tube, and resilient means tending to oppose movement of said sleeve in one direction.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

JULrUs r. ooLLvnn. 

